Letters: Board of Education: Valued asset

I am dismayed at the conduct of Mayor and Council as it relates to our Board of Education. It seems to me that this governing body criticizes our Board of Ed at far too many Council meetings. Council meetings are not the forum to discuss Board of Ed issues. There are no Board of Ed members present to discuss or explain their policies. It is inappropriate and quite frankly somewhat arrogant. It is important to hear all sides on issues. One sided decisions rarely work.

I know every member of the Board and I know their dedication and efforts to provide a quality education for our children. I know they work far harder than the governing body. Board of Ed meetings are a forum welcome to public input. Public comment is high on the Agenda unlike Council’s agenda which puts the public comment last. They care. They also work with “Speak up Summit,” a group of dedicated residents focused on improving our educational system. This is the appropriate forum to comment or question Board policies.

Council should deal with its own issues. They should, for example, be fixing the $800,000 taxpayer parking mess they created instead of criticizing the Board of Education. How much more money will we waste on “Parking Ambassadors,” money that could be better spent on improving our schools.

The primary purpose of all boards is to do what is best for Summit, not to grandstand for the public or criticize each other. If I am elected to my former Council seat, I commit to honor that principle. Sound policy must always prevail over partisan politics.